Charges dropped against Hamilton County jailer accused of assault

Charges dropped against Hamilton County jailer accused of assault

A General Sessions Court judge dismissed charges Tuesday morning against a Hamilton County jailer and her two daughters after they were arrested last week.

Judge David Bales dismissed the charges after a woman came forward with video recorded on a cellphone.

Cpl. Arnetta Jones-Eady, 51, faced charges of aggravated assault after her grandson's mother, Christy Fitch, said Jones-Eady held her down. She made allegations that Jones-Eady's two daughters, Lanetta Hudson, 30, and LeAnn Jones, 27, punched her repeatedly. The argument reportedly started after Jones-Eady's son picked up one of the couple's children from day care.

"Apparently there was an uninvolved third party who captured what occurred on video and disputed what the victim alleged occurred," said Hamilton County Executive Assistant District Attorney Neal Pinkston.

Fitch, 21, still stands by her story, she said.

"They said I couldn't prove what happened," said Fitch, who said the video only showed what happened once the fight was over. "They didn't do anything."

Jones-Eady said she was relieved when a woman came forward with the video.

She said she left work early at the jail that day to take her granddaughter to orientation when she saw her daughters and grandchildren near where Fitch lived.

She stopped to speak to them when a fight broke out.

"Once they reviewed the video, they had to drop the case," Jones-Eady said. The whole arrest was a lie. Never once did I touch or assault anyone. I did my job, which is keeping the peace."

Sheriff Jim Hammond said Jones-Eady will remain on paid leave while the sheriff's office conducts an internal investigation to see if she broke any policies.